The SMU Mustangs (7-2) play on the road for the second time this season, visiting Illinois-Chicago (3-4) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This is SMU's sixth game in 11 days, and its fourth game in six days. The Mustangs enter the game off an 88-59 win over McNeese State at the Curtis Culwell Center, where the Mustangs are 5-0 this year. SMU's only other road game this year was an 89-78 loss at Arkansas on Nov. 18. The Mustangs have played three neutral-site games, going 2-1.
On defense, SMU is holding opponents to 36.3% from the field (1st American, 13th NCAA). SMU has held 13 of its last 18 opponents (7 of 9 this season) under 40%. Last season, SMU was 29th in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (.395). That was the first time SMU had kept opponents below 40% for a season since 1961-62.

On offense, six Mustangs are averaging at least 6.0 points per game. The team is averaging 75.7 points per game with Nic Moore (13.9) and Yanick Moreira (11.0) averaging double figures. SMU is first in The American in rebound margin (+9.8), and has outrebounded 8 of 9 opponents. The only opponent to outrebound SMU was [RV/-] Texas A&M (37-33) on 11/30 and the best margin was +26 (46-20) versus Sam Houston State on 11/26.

After SMU's third-place finish at the Corpus Christi Challenge, Nic Moore was named to the All-Tournament team. Moore averaged 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and a steal while hitting 7-of-12 (.583) 3-pointers. He had a team-high 17 points in the 76-73 loss to [RV/RV] Virginia and followed that with 16 points, including 4-of-6 on three-pointers in the 55-52 win against [RV/-] Texas A&M.

Monday (Dec. 2), Nic Moore was named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll for the second time this season, averaging 13.0 points, 2.3 assists and 2.3 rebounds to lead the Mustangs to a 2-1 week. Junior center Yanick Moreira has also been named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll this season. For the week that ended Nov. 24, he averaged 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in three games while shooting 65.2 percent (15-23) from the floor. The previous week (Nov. 18), freshman Ben Moore was The American Rookie of the Week and Nic Moore was selected to the weekly Honor Roll.

HOMECOMING: The game at UIC is a "homecoming" for four Mustangs; Sterling Brown, Crandall Head, Ben Moore and Nic Moore. Brown (Maywood, Ill./Proviso East HS) and Ben Moore (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) were both Illinois Basketball finalists last year. Nic Moore played for Warsaw High School in northern Indiana and his freshman season at Illinois State. Head played at Rich South in Matteson, Ill., before starting his college career at Illinois. Mustangs' associate head coach Tim Jankovich spent five years as the head coach at Illinois State.

LAST GAME (W, 88-59 VS. McNEESE STATE ON DEC. 2) GARLAND, Texas (AP) Nic Moore hit all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half as SMU combined a long-distance barrage with inside domination to pull away early in its 88-59 rout of McNeese State Monday night. Moore, a sophomore playing his first season for SMU (7-2) after transferring from Illinois State, didn't shoot again, hitting five of six overall, and scored a team-high 15 points. The visiting Cowboys (2-6) were led by Ledrick Eackles, son of former NBA veteran Ledell Eackles, with 21 points. SMU hit 10 3-pointers, one short of its season high, in 14 tries - and shot only 13 free throws. McNeese State, which came in averaging 23 3-point attempts per game, went 10 for 34 behind the arc and hit 20 of 61 field-goal attempts to shoot 32.8 percent. Second-year Mustangs coach Larry Brown has often expressed his distaste for the 3-point shot despite the fact that he began his pro career in the American Basketball Association, which touted the shot as one of its selling points in competition with the established NBA. Moore opened the scoring with a 3-pointer as SMU burst from the gate to a 15-5 lead. He added three more during a 15-0 Mustangs run that left the hosts with a 30-7 lead with 8:21 to play before halftime. SMU continued to connect from both long distance and from close range to take a 52-17 lead at intermission, which would equal its largest of the game. The Mustangs out-rebounded the Cowboys 42-25 and outscored them in the paint 34-14. The inside-outcome combination allowed SMU to shoot 59.6 percent. The wide margin of SMU's advantage enabled Mustangs' freshman reserve Ben Moore to draw guffaws from the bench when he went to initially report in with about six minutes to play in the half to discover he'd forgotten to put on his game jersey. He subsequently earned a cheer from the crowd when he emerged from the dressing room minutes later and raced back to the scorer's table. The victory was Brown's 199th in nine seasons as a collegiate head coach to go with 1,198 in the NBA, 429 in the ABA and 29 for USA Basketball. He'll aim at No. 200 on Wednesday night when the Mustangs play at Illinois-Chicago. The game was the fifth of nine consecutive played on either road or neutral courts for the Cowboys.

UP NEXT: The Mustangs host Hofstra on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 12 p.m. at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco. The Mustangs then have 11 days between games during final exams; hosting UTPA at the Curtis Culwell Center on Dec. 18. (SMU is playing non-conference home games in Garland while the $47 million renovations to Moody Coliseum are completed. The Mustangs will play all American Athletic Conference home games on campus, beginning with Connecticut on Jan. 4.)

THE SERIES VS. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (0-0): This is the first meeting between the two schools.

HALL OF FAME HEAD COACH Larry Brown...was named head men's basketball coach at SMU on April 19, 2012. He is the only head coach to win both an NCAA title (Kansas 1988) and an NBA Championship (Detroit 2004). Brown was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach on Sept. 27, 2002. He is in his 39th season as a head coach and 9th at the NCAA level. He has an overall record of 1675-1211 when combining his head coaching marks from the NBA, the ABA, the NCAA and USA Basketball. His collegiate record is 199-80 (22-19 at SMU), making the NCAA tournament in his first seven seasons including three Final Fours (1980, 1986, 1988) and the 1988 NCAA title.

Larry Brown AT HOME (NCAA): His teams are 107-18 (.856) at home. He is 12-7 (.632) at SMU. His teams were 24-6 (.800) at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA and 71-5 (.934) at Allen Fieldhouse while at Kansas. (At KU, his teams won a Big 8-record 55 straight home games, which is 3rd all-time at KU - Started 3/3/84 vs. Oklahoma State W, 91-70 - Ended 1/30/88 vs. Kansas State L, 72-61).

Larry Brown ON THE ROAD (NCAA): His teams are 47-41 (.534) in road games. He is 6-8 (.429) at SMU.

Larry Brown IN NEUTRAL SITE GAMES (NCAA): His teams are 45-21 (.682) in neutral site games. He is 3-3 (.500) in neutral site games with SMU.

BASKETBALL RETURNS TO MOODY COLISEUM ON JAN. 4: On Jan. 4, SMU will host Connecticut as basketball returns to Moody Coliseum. That Saturday afternoon, the men will host the ESPNU-televised American Athletic Conference matchup at 1 p.m., with the women's team hosting USF at 3:30 p.m. The $47 million renovation and expansion of Moody Coliseum will be completed in December, so the Mustangs will host all conference games on campus. The renovated Moody Coliseum will provide many new and improved features, including a renovated main entry lobby, expanded concourses with raised ceilings, club seats, loge boxes, private suites, group suites, new event space, offices, team locker rooms and meeting space.

SIGNING DAY - CONSENSUS TOP-5 PROSPECT EMMANUEL MUDIAY SIGNS WITH SMU: SMU Head Coach Larry Brown announced that Emmanuel Mudiay has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Mustangs beginning with the 2014-15 season. Mudiay is a consensus top-5 prospect from Prime Prep Academy in Dallas. He is rated No. 2 overall by Rivals, No. 3 overall by Scout and No. 5 overall by ESPN. As a junior, Mudiay averaged just over 15 points and 10 rebounds as he helped Prime Prep to a 37-2 record, reaching the semifinals of the National High School Invitational. He played AAU basketball for MWA Elite, averaging 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 2013 after averaging 21.2 points and 6.0 assists in 2012. Mudiay's signing follows a 2013 class that ranked as high as No. 14 nationally.

SMU ADDS 1,000 NEW SEASON TICKETS: SMU Men's Basketball has over 1,000 new season tickets have been sold. The Mustangs open the renovated Moody Coliseum on Jan. 4 versus Connecticut. SMU fans will get a chance to see every American Athletic Conference opponent in Moody Coliseum, as the Mustangs will play each league opponent twice. In addition to Connecticut, the Mustangs will host defending national champion Louisville as well as 2013 NCAA Tournament teams Temple, Memphis and Cincinnati. SMU will also host games against league foes Houston, Rutgers, UCF and USF.

PROUD TO BE AMERICAN: A new era of SMU Basketball begins in January as the Mustangs play their inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference. The Mustangs play their first American Athletic Conference contest at Cincinnati on New Year's Day. The first home game in the renovated Moody Coliseum is against Connecticut on Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. Defending NCAA champion Louisville comes to Moody Coliseum in the home finale on March 5. SMU fans will get a chance to see every AAC opponent in Moody Coliseum, as the Mustangs will play each league opponent twice. All 18 American Athletic Conference matchups will be nationally televised. In addition to Louisville, the Mustangs will host 2013 NCAA Tournament teams Temple, Memphis and Cincinnati. SMU will also host games against league foes Houston, Rutgers, UCF and USF.
Opponent Series 2013-14 Meetings (Last Matchup)
Cincinnati 1-2 J1 at UC, F8 at SMU (L, 106-74 at UC on 1/15/1975)
Connecticut 1-0 J4 at SMU, F23 at UCONN (W, 80-66 at SMU, 12/30/1965)
Houston 25-46 J26 at UH, F19 at SMU (L, 84-80 OT at SMU, 2/2/2013)
Louisville 2-6 J12 at UL, M5 at SMU (L, 87-79 - Honolulu, 12/28/1987)
Memphis 3-11 F1 at SMU, M8 at UM (L, 60-52 at SMU, 2/6/2013)
Rutgers 0-0 J21 at SMU, F13 at RU (First Meeting)
Temple 0-2 F6 at SMU, F16 at TU (L, 90-81 - Evanston, Ill., 3/23/1956)
NCAA Final Four - 3rd Place Game
UCF 3-6 J18 at UCF, M1 at SMU (L, 74-65, at UCF, 1/26/2013)
USF 2-2 J15 at SMU, J28 at USF (L, 67-61 at SMU, 11/13/2009)

THE GRADUATES: SMU seniors Nick Russell and Shawn Williams have already earned their bachelor's degrees and are enrolled in graduate courses. Williams graduated in May 2013 with a degree in sociology. Russel earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in August 2013.

ATTENDANCE UP: Avg. Attendance from 2011-12 to 2012-13 - 71.1% increase (3,443 from 2,013). SMU already has more than 1,000 new season tickets for 2013-14. The Mustangs are averaging 3,371 so far this season with home games off campus at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland. The Mustangs will play all American Athletic Conference home games on campus in the renovated Moody Coliseum.

BALANCED SCORING: On offense, six Mustangs are averaging at least 6.0 points per game. The team is averaging 75.7 points per game with Nic Moore (13.9) and Yanick Moreira (11.0) averaging double figures.

BENCH SCORING: SMU is averaging 31.9 points per game off the bench. SMU had 49 points off the bench on Monday against McNeese State, the Mustangs' third game this season with 40+ bench points (42 vs. Rhode Island, 45 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

FG% DEFENSE: On defense, SMU is holding opponents to 36.3% from the field (1st AAC, 13th NCAA). SMU has held 13 of its last 18 opponents under 40%. Last season, SMU was 29th in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (.395). That was the first time SMU had kept opponents below 40% for a season since 1961-62.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: 21 of the Mustangs' games will be broadcast live on national television this season, six more than the last five years combined. All 18 of SMU's American Athletic Conference games will air on either the ESPN family of networks or CBS Sports Network. The Mustangs also have eight non-conference games available on ESPN3.

PAINT IS KEY: The Mustangs have outscored their opponents in the paint in all nine games this year. SMU has scored 50 or more points in the paint twice this season, a 54-point output against Rhode Island (11/11) and 52 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (11/24). On average, the Mustangs have outscored their opponents in the key by a count of 35.8-17.6.

ROAD MUSTANGS: The Mustangs are 10-12 under Larry Brown in road/neutral games (6-8 road/4-4 neutral). In 2012-13, SMU went 6-7 on the road, winning 6 regular season road games for the first time since doing the same in 2001-02. The Mustangs went 3-2 in non-conference road games, winning 3 non-league games on the road for the first time since 2003-04. Dec. 1 is also the earliest SMU has had 3 road wins, beating the previous date of Dec. 9 in 2003-04.

TURNAROUND +53: SMU defeated Rhode Island 89-58 (+31) on Nov. 11. That was a 53-point turnaround from the previous meeting, a 72-50 (-22) loss at Rhode Island on Dec. 15, 2012. That tied the largest turnaround in SMU history for consecutive meetings against the same opponent. The previous 53-point mark was set when SMU defeated Memphis 70-60 at Moody Coliseum on Jan. 30, 2010 after falling 90-47 at #5 Memphis on Feb. 18, 2009.

Sterling Brown (6-6, 200, G, Fr.): Has played in all 9 games, averaging 2.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. Scored a season-high five points to go along with six rebounds against McNeese State. Had a team-high seven rebounds in 13 minutes against Texas State. Scored first two collegiate points against Rhode Island.

Cannen Cunningham (6-10, 225, C, Jr.): Played in all 9 games, averaging 5.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game. Shooting 19-25 (76.0%) on the season, and 15-17 (88.2%) from the FT line. SMU Career Rankings: 84 blocks, good for eighth at SMU.

Kevin Dunleavy (6-3, 180, G, Jr.): Played in 4 games. Scored his first career points (2) against McNeese State. Made his first appearance of the season against Rhode Island. 2012-13: Averaged 1.8 minutes in five games a year ago. Recorded his first career steal at Hofstra.

Keith Frazier (6-5, 190, G, Fr.): Played in 8 games, averaging 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 19.0 minutes per game. Did not play at Arkansas (injury). Third on the team with 11 points, including nine from beyond the arc, in his collegiate debut against TCU. Prep: McDonald's All-American

Crandall Head (6-4, 180, G, RS-Jr.): Played in 8 games, averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.0 minutes. Scored a career-high six points to go along with a season-high two assists against McNeese State. Had two points and two rebounds in his SMU debut against TCU.

Markus Kennedy (6-9, 245, F, RS-So.): Played in all 9 games, averaging 8.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.4 assists in 20.7 minutes. Recorded or tied team-highs in rebounds (5), assists (5) and blocks (2) against Virginia. Scored a career-high 14 points and tied his career high in block shots with four against Sam Houston State. Went 8-8 from the free-throw line against Sam Houston State. Tallied four points, four rebounds, one block and a steal in his SMU debut against TCU.

Ryan Manuel (6-4, 185, G, Jr.): Started all 9 games, averaging 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Had a season-high four assists to go along with eight points against McNeese State. Career-high three blocks to go along with three assists, two points and a steal in 20 minutes against Texas State. School Record: Netted the most free-throws by a sophomore (2012-13) in SMU history with 167, a mark that included nine games of 7+ free throws.

Ben Moore (6-8, 185, F, Fr.): Played in all 9 games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 12.9 minutes. Shooting 24-35 (68.6%) from the field. Recorded a season-high and game-high five assists to go along with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting against McNeese State. Tallied 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting while adding two blocks and an assist at Arkansas. Awards: American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week (11/18) Prep: All-Illinois Honorable Mention selection and Mr. Basketball finalist.

Nic Moore (5-9, 170, G, RS-So.): Started all 9 games, averaging 13.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists (4th American) and 1.4 steals. First player to go 5-for-5 or better from beyond the arc since Rodney Clinkscales did so on 11/12/10 against Arkansas-Little Rock. First in The American in three-pointers made with 3.0 per game. Has scored in double figures in eight of nine games. Awards: American Athletic Conference Honor Roll twice (11/18 and 12/2)

Yanick Moreira (6-11, 220, C, Jr.): Started all 9 games, averaging 11.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 19.4 minutes. First Mustang to record a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Sam Houston State, his fourth-straight game in double figures in points. Shot 6-of-6 from the floor against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the first player to shoot perfect from the field (min. 5 FGM) since Papa Dia went 10-10 against Southern Miss on Jan. 22, 2011. Awards: American Athletic Conference Honor Roll (11/25) 2012-13: JUCO All-America and the No. 1 junior college prospect by JUCO Junction on Rivals.

Nick Russell (6-4, 210, G, RS-Sr.): Started all 9 games, averaging 8.7 points, 3.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds 1.0 steals in 29.9 minutes per game. Had a career-high eight rebounds and a season-high six assists against Sam Houston State. Has distributed multiple assists in all five of SMU's games this year. 2012-13: Scored in double-figures in all but five games last season, and in 17-straight games from Jan. 2-March 9.

Jonathan Wilfong (6-2, 185, G, Fr.): Played in 4 games, averaging 1.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 1.8 minutes per game. Scored his first collegiate points in his first collegiate game on the Mustangs' second-to-last possession against Rhode Island.

Shawn Williams (6-7, 230, F, RS-Sr.): Started all 9 games, averaging 4.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game. 2012-13: Third at SMU in rebound average with 5.2 a game in 2012-13, in addition to averaging 8.5 points and 0.8 blocks per game.

MENTOR VS. MOP: Larry Brown (SMU) and Danny Manning (Tulsa) met twice as head coaches in the 2012-13 season. SMU and Tulsa split the matchups; Tulsa won 48-47 at SMU on Jan. 6 and SMU won 71-65 at Tulsa on March 6. Brown was the head coach and Manning was the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the Final Four as Kansas won the 1988 NCAA Championship. They are just the second tandem to meet as head coaches after being the head coach and MOP for the same NCAA title team.
- Howie Dallmar - 1942 MOP for Stanford (Coach was Everett Dean); Dean (Stanford) vs. Dallmar (Penn) at Penn on Dec. 29, 1950 (Penn wins 59-58)
- Danny Manning - 1988 MOP for Kansas (Coach was Larry Brown); Manning (Tulsa) vs. Brown (SMU) at SMU on Jan. 6 (TU won 48-47), and at Tulsa on March 6 (SMU won 71-65)

GENE PHILLIPS INDUCTED TO SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE SPORTS HALL OF FAME: SMU Hall of Famer Gene Phillips was inducted into the Southwest Conference (SWC) Hall of Fame on Oct. 28. The SWC HOF is sponsored by the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco. Phillips played at SMU from 1968-71 and was a three-time SWC Player of the Year. He averaged 26.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during his three-season career on the Hilltop. He set the program record with 1,932 career points, which is still second. His 26.1 points per game for a career are also the SMU standard. He also holds the marks for the top two seasons at SMU in scoring and scoring average; totaling 737 points with a 28.3 average in 1970-71 and adding 685 points for a 28.5 average in 1969-70. He set the SMU and SWC record with 51 points at Texas on March 2, 1971, and scored 30 or more points 24 times. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971 NBA Draft and played two seasons with the ABA's Dallas Chaparrals.

NEW COURT DESIGN FOR NEW MOODY: With the $47 million renovation and expansion of Moody Coliseum moving close to completion, SMU unveiled the new floor design for the historic facility. The new floor has a classic and clean look to it. The court will have a blue border with white lines marking the lanes, three-point arcs and mid-court stripe. The center-court logo includes the blue SMU word mark and red pony. The new design also focuses on branding the University and SMU Athletics as the Mustangs' exposure reaches unprecedented levels - all 18 men's conference games are nationally televised during the inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference.

SECOND CENTURY CAMPIAGN GOAL $1 BILLION: Bolstered by the success to date of SMU's Second Century Campaign, the University's Board of Trustees has raised the goal from $750 million to $1 billion. At its quarterly meeting on Sept. 13, the board voted unanimously to accept the new goal recommended by the campaign's leadership. The campaign seeks additional funds for scholarships, academic programs, faculty positions and campus improvements and facilities. SMU already has surpassed its original goal and timetable, raising $780 million for a campaign scheduled to end in 2015, the 100th anniversary of SMU's opening. That date is now set to mark another milestone - the completion of SMU's first $1 billion campaign. SMU will join only 12 other private universities currently seeking goals of $1 billion or more. Among them are Columbia, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, the University of Chicago and the University of Southern California. SMU is the first comprehensive university in North Texas to seek that amount.

In alignment with the educational mission of the University, we engage the community in meaningful ways and develop the resources necessary to graduate Student-Leaders and pursue championships. Above all else, we prepare Students for life.